Three-dimensional shape measurement of large-aperture aspheric mirrors by off-axis null Ronchi test.

An off-axis null Ronchi test is presented to measure the three-dimensional (3D) shape of a large-aperture aspheric mirror. The method designs curved fringe patterns as null sinusoidal gratings by means of phase information and ray tracing. In the process of measurement, the curved fringe patterns are displayed on a transmission-type liquid crystal display (T-LCD) screen, and a CCD camera records the fringe patterns containing the information of deviations of the mirror.

Effects of midazolam on brain injury after transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats*.

The benzodiazepine, midazolam, is commonly used for sedation and anesthesia in the operating room and the intensive care unit where there is a risk of cerebral ischemia. We therefore examined its ability to reduce damage subsequent to cerebral ischemia. Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to a high-dose midazolam group or a matched vehicle group and a lower dose of midazolam group or a matched vehicle group.

Effects of delayed administration of low-dose lidocaine on transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats.

Background: The authors' previous study demonstrated that a clinical antiarrhythmic dose of lidocaine, when given before ischemia, is neuroprotective in a rat model of transient focal cerebral ischemia. In this study, the authors investigated whether the administration of this dose of lidocaine, when delayed until 45 min after the onset of ischemia, also reduces ischemic brain injury.

Methods: Lidocaine was administered as an intravenous bolus (1.